Bahá’u’lláh’s Seven Valleys and Developmental Psychology ...
Bahaullahs visits to Haifa - Reflections on the Bahai Writings€¦ · Bahá’u’lláh’s Visits...
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Bahá’u’lláh’s Visits to Haifa Shoghi Effendi writes in God Passes by that the Blessed Beauty visited Haifa a total of four times [1]. The first visit took place when the Blessed Beauty arrived to ‘Akká by way of Haifa and the last was in 1891. First Visit (31 st of August 1868) “The first visit was of short duration, when He disembarked in 1868 from the Lloyd-Triestino steamer [2]. “On the morning of the 2nd of Jamádiyu’l-Avval 1285 A.H. (August 21, 1868) they all embarked in an Austrian-Lloyd steamer for Alexandria … In Alexandria they transhipped into a steamer of the same company, bound for Haifa, where, after brief stops at Port Said and Jaffa, they landed, setting out, a few hours later, in a sailing vessel, for ‘‘Akká, where they disembarked, in the course of the afternoon of the 12th of Jamádiyu’l-Avval 1285 A.H. (August 31, 1868)” [1]. “When the Austrian-Lloyd liner stood before Haifa, the authorities set about preparing for the journey of Mirza Yahya and his dependents to Cyprus. This move entailed the separation of the four Baha'is, whom they had decreed should accompany Mirza Yahya to his place of exile, from the compact body of the companions of Baha'u'llah. … Naturally, they and all the companions were greatly distressed when the hour of separation came” [2]. “It was at the moment when Bahá’u’lláh had stepped into the boat which was to carry Him to the landing-stage in Haifa that ‘Abdu’l-Ghaffár, one of the four companions condemned to share the exile of Mírzá Yahyá, and whose “detachment, love and trust in God” Bahá’u’lláh had greatly praised, cast himself, in his despair, into the sea, shouting “Yá Bahá’u’l-Abhá,” and was subsequently rescued and resuscitated with the greatest difficulty, only to be forced by adamant officials to continue his voyage, with Mírzá Yahyá’s party, to the destination originally appointed for him” [1]. Second Visit (1883) The second visit took place in August and September of 1883. This second visit lasted at least three weeks. Bahá’u’lláh reveals in a Tablet dated 19 th of August of that year that He visited Haifa. In another Tablet dated in September of the same year, Bahá’u’lláh confirms that He was still in Haifa. It is therefore assumed (based on the dates of these two Tablets) that the second visit of the Blessed Beauty lasted at least three weeks [3].
Transcript of Bahaullahs visits to Haifa - Reflections on the Bahai Writings€¦ · Bahá’u’lláh’s Visits...
Bahá’u’lláh’sVisitstoHaifa
ShoghiEffendiwritesinGodPassesbythattheBlessedBeautyvisitedHaifaatotaloffourtimes[1].ThefirstvisittookplacewhentheBlessedBeautyarrivedto‘AkkábywayofHaifaandthelastwasin1891.
FirstVisit(31stofAugust1868)
“Thefirstvisitwasofshortduration,whenHedisembarkedin1868fromtheLloyd-Triestinosteamer[2].
“Onthemorningofthe2ndofJamádiyu’l-Avval1285A.H.(August21,1868)theyallembarkedinanAustrian-LloydsteamerforAlexandria…InAlexandriatheytranshippedintoasteamerofthesamecompany,boundforHaifa,where,afterbriefstopsatPortSaidandJaffa,theylanded,settingout,afewhourslater,inasailingvessel,for‘‘Akká,wheretheydisembarked,inthecourseoftheafternoonofthe12thofJamádiyu’l-Avval1285A.H.(August31,1868)”[1].
“WhentheAustrian-LloydlinerstoodbeforeHaifa,theauthoritiessetaboutpreparingforthejourneyofMirzaYahyaandhisdependentstoCyprus.ThismoveentailedtheseparationofthefourBaha'is,whomtheyhaddecreedshouldaccompanyMirzaYahyatohisplaceofexile,from the compact body of the companions of Baha'u'llah. … Naturally, they and all thecompanionsweregreatlydistressedwhenthehourofseparationcame”[2].
“ItwasatthemomentwhenBahá’u’lláhhadsteppedintotheboatwhichwastocarryHimtothe landing-stage inHaifa that ‘Abdu’l-Ghaffár,oneof the fourcompanionscondemnedtosharetheexileofMírzáYahyá,andwhose“detachment,loveandtrustinGod”Bahá’u’lláhhadgreatlypraised,casthimself,inhisdespair,intothesea,shouting“YáBahá’u’l-Abhá,”andwassubsequentlyrescuedandresuscitatedwiththegreatestdifficulty,onlytobeforcedbyadamantofficialstocontinuehisvoyage,withMírzáYahyá’sparty,tothedestinationoriginallyappointedforhim”[1].
SecondVisit(1883)
ThesecondvisittookplaceinAugustandSeptemberof1883.Thissecondvisitlastedatleastthreeweeks.Bahá’u’lláhrevealsinaTabletdated19thofAugustofthatyearthatHevisitedHaifa.InanotherTabletdatedinSeptemberofthesameyear,Bahá’u’lláhconfirmsthatHewasstillinHaifa.Itisthereforeassumed(basedonthedatesofthesetwoTablets)thatthesecondvisitoftheBlessedBeautylastedatleastthreeweeks[3].
RafatistatesthatBahá’u’lláhstayedinBayt-i-Fanduq,ahouseintheGermancolony,partofwhichstillstandstoday[2].Thisis,fromwhatIcangather,aguesthousethatbelongedtotheGermanTemplers.Partsofthisbuildingstillstandstoday.Thenameoftheguesthousewas“KarmelKrafft”.Itbecameabusstationbythenameof“EggedOldBusStation”andtodaythebuildingislocatedatthenortheastcornerofMeirRutbergandYafoStreet[3].
ThirdVisit(1890)
ThethirdvisitofBahá’u’lláhtoHaifatookplacein1890.Ontheeveningofthe1stofAprilofthatyear,HeenteredHaifa.ThisisknownasBahá’u’lláh,inaTabletaddressedtoHajiMirzaHeydar Ali, stated that “yesterday”, He travelled from ‘Akká to Haifa and arrived in theevening.AstheTabletisdated2ndofApril,HearrivedinHaifaonthe1stofApril.HissojourninHaifalastednolongerthan2weeks.ThisdeductionisbasedontheknownfactthatE.G.BrownhadthehonourofbeingtheguestofBahá’u’lláhattheMansionofBahji.E.G.Brownvisitbeganonthe15thofAprilandendedonthe20thofApril.Assuch,Bahá’u’lláhmusthavereturnedtothe‘AkkáareabeforeE.GBrownleft.ItwasduringthisvisitthatE.G.Brownmadehiseloquentpen-portraitoftheBlessedBeauty.
DuringHisthirdvisittoHaifa,Bahá’u’lláhstayedfirstattheBayt-i-Zahlannearthetown,andthenmovedtoahouseintheGermancolonywhichwasknownastheOliphanthouse[2].ThenameofthehouseseemstobeHausOliphant.Bahá’u’lláhstayedbothinsidethehousebutalsooutsideinatentpitchedoppositeofthehouse(currentlyonBenGurion6).TheplotuponwhichthetentofBahá’u’lláhwaspitched,isnowacentreforsoldiersnamedGeneralPierreKoenigSoldierCentre.
HouseofOliphant(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurence_Oliphant_(author))
ForthVisit(1891)
Bahá'u'lláhvisitedHaifaforthefourthandlasttimeinthesummerof1891.HearrivedinHaifaonthe27thofJuneofthatsameyear[3].Thisvisitwasthelongest.Hewasin“Haifaforthreemonths, staying in the house of Ilyas Abyad near the German colony, and His tent stoodnearby” [2]. His tent was pitched on the foot of Mount Carmel on HaGefen Street (see
picture). Balyuzi explains that “during these sojourns in Haifa, He rented houses in theneighbouringGermancolony”[2].ThehouseinwhichtheBlessedBeautystayedat,wascalled“houseofIlyasAbyad”[2].Itseemsthatthishouseatonetimewasaboardingschool[4]butbecameanofficespaceforabank(MercantileBank)[3].
ThespotuponwhichtheBlessedBeautypitchedHistentonHaGefenStreetinHaifa,justnexttotheGermanTemplarbuildingthathadtheinscriptions“DasHerristname”(imagefromwww.Bahá’u’lláh.org)
“Inthehousewiththepropheticinscription“DerHerristnahe”alittlegirlwasborn,probablyin1887,hernameWilhelminePfander,shemarriedtobecomeMrsDeininger.In1977,thewifeofGerhardSchmelzle,aTemplarborninHaifawhohadgonetoAustraliawithhisparentsandhadtherebecomeaBahá'íinhismaturity,soughtMrsDeiningeratherhomeinSouthAustraliaandinquiredaboutherchildhoodinthathouse.Theagedwomanclearlyrecalledthe tent on the open land next door, thatHoly Placewhich is nowmarked by a circle ofcypresses.WhileBahá'u'lláhandHiscompanionswerethere,whenshewas“fourorfive”,sherecounted,HehadhadabriefillnessandhadbeeninvitedintothePfanderhomeforatimewhileHewasseenbytheTemplardoctor,possiblyDrJ.Schmidt.SherecalledhavingseenBahá'u'lláhintheroomatthenorth-westcornerofthegroundfloor”[4].
TentsusedbytheBlessedBeautyduringHisstayinHaifa(imagefromwww.Bahá’u’lláh.org)
Balyuziwrites[2]thefollowingstorythattookplaceinthetentpitchedontheabovestatedspotwhentheAfnanfamilycameonpilgrimage.
“Travellingbyboat,theyreachedHaifaattheendofJuly1891,whereBaha'u'llahwasthenstaying.'ThelateJinab-i-Manshadi',writesHajiMirzaHabibu'llah,'metusontheboat,ontheinstructionsoftheBlessedPerfection,arrangedforourlanding,tookusthroughthecustoms,andledustothetentofBaha'u'llahwhichwaspitchedatthefootofMountCarmel.Iwellrememberthatday.Itwasearlymorning,thesunwasnotyetwellupoverthecrestofthemountain,andtheairwasveryfreshandtrulyvivifying.Withinthetent,Jinab-i-Manshadiwastalkingtous,enquiringaftertheFriendsinShiraz,whensuddenlyMirzaMustafa…whowasanattendantoftheBlessedPerfection,…,enteredandledustothehouseandthepresenceoftheBlessedPerfection.Heheldasidethecurtain.Allourhopesandearnestwisheswerenowfulfilled.TheAbhaBeautywasstandinginthemiddleoftheroom.BeholdingHisblessedFigureandHis luminousVisageoverwhelmedus....Our tearswereoutofcontrol.As theyflowed,wewerecircumambulatingHisblessedPerson.Hesatdownonthedivanandinvitedustosit.Wefourbrotherssatonthefloor.Onourright,MirzaAqaJanwasseatedwiththesamovarandteathingsinfrontofhim.TheBlessedPerfectionsaid:"PourteafortheyoungAfnans;theyhavejustcomeashore";andthenHespoketous:"Oflowersoftherose-gardenofhishonourtheAfnan!Youarewelcome,youarewelcome.YourdeparturefromShirazwasverydifficultandtoilsome.ThewillofGodandtheresolutionofJinab-i-Afnanbroughtyoutothis sacred threshold.Duringyour sea journeydangersbesetyouandGodprotectedyou.Consider,thisverydayseveralthousandaretreadingthegroundbetweenSafaandMarwih[onone foot] (theFestivalofSacrificewason thatdayandpartof the ritesofpilgrimageincludetraversingseventimesthedistancebetweenthesetwomoundswhere,accordingtotradition,Hagarranbackandforthseventimes,seekingaspringtoquenchherson'sthirst).The Beloved of theworld of being resides in this Land, but they are all negligent; all areheedless,allunaware,alluninformed.Youaretherealpilgrims."ThriceHesaid:"Youarethereal{hajis}[pilgrims]."Atthatmoment,whenIwaslostinwondermentandhearkeningtothewordsoftheBelovedoftheworlds,theselinesofMawlaviscametomymind:
OHajis!Yewhohaveperformedthehajj(pilgrimage),whereareye,whereareye?
TheBelovedishere,comehitherye,comehitherye.
TheBelovedisyourneighbour,wallbywall;
Whyinthewildernesslostareyeall?
Andatthatverymoment,theBlessedPerfectionturnedtomeandsaid:"Themysticshadsomethingtosayonthisaccount."ThenHeaskedMirzaAqaJantopourusteaagain.Afterthat,weleftHispresence.
AnotherstoryofaneventtakingplaceinHaifa(probablyinthesametent)isgivenbyMírzáHabíbu’lláhAfnán.Hewritesthefollowing[7]
“Haifawashotduringthesedays.Wewerenotfamiliarwith,oraccustomedto,itsclimateand had a very difficult time, often falling ill. But the bounties of our beloved LordweremeasurelessandtheseaofHisgraceandmunificencewaseverbillowing.IrememberwellonedaywhenwewerecalledtoHispresenceatthreeo’clockintheafternoon.Ihadaverybadfever.MybrothersdressedandpreparedtoattainHispresence.Ialsogotup[frommybed] to accompany them,whenmy oldest brother tried to stopme from going. He said,“PerhapsyouarenotallowedtoattainBahá’u’lláh’spresenceinsuchafeverishcondition.”Ireplied,“Heisawareofmycondition.”IwentintoHispresence.TheBlessedPerfectionturnedtomeand said, “Youhavea fever,”atwhich Ibowedmyhead.He continued, “Fever is aproductofthisland.Whoevercomesheremustsufferfromit.”ThenHeorderedteatobegiventous.ImmediatelyIbegantoperspiresomuchthatmyclothesweresoaked.ThentheBlessed Perfection said, “Go and change your clothes. Fever will not trouble you again.”ThroughouttheremainingninemonthswespentintheHolyLand,Ididnotsufferfromfeveragain”[7].
Duringthis time, thenewsof theSevenMartyrs inYazdreachedthem. MírzáHabíbu’lláhAfnáncontinuestorecountthefollowing.
“Duringthesedaysin1308A.H.[1891],theepisodeofthesevenmartyrsofYazdtookplace.WhenthenewswasbroughttoBahá’u’lláh,itcausedHimtremendoussorrowandanguish.Forninewholedays,verseswerenotrevealedfromtheheavenofdivineknowledgeandnoonewasallowedintoHispresence.Ontheninthday,thefriendswereallsummoned,andwehadthathonourtoo.ThedeepgriefthatsurroundedHisBlessedPersonwasindescribable.Hespokeextensivelyabout theQájársand theirmisdeeds.Afterwards,Hementioned theeventsofYazd.Sternly,theTongueofGrandeurspokeoftheJalálu’d-Dawlih
andZillu’s-Sultan[thesetwowereresponsiblefortheMartyrdomofthefriendsinYazd].
Bahá’u’lláhcontinuedtorecountastoryaboutZillu’s-Sultan.
“Zillu’s-SultanwroteUsaletterinhisownhandwritingandgaveittoHjSayyah(attendantofZillu’s-Sultan)tobring.HeaskedUstohelphim,with[thesupportof]theBábis,todestroyhisSháh-Bábá(Naserid-DinShah)‘IfYoudothis’,hewrote,‘IwillgiveYouliberty;IwillgiveYouofficialrecognition;IwillhelpandsupportYou;Iwillmakeamendsforthepast.WhateverSháh-Bábádid,Iwilldojusttheopposite.’Theentireletterwasfullofsuchstatements.TheanswerWegavehimwasthis:‘PrayingfortheShahisobligatoryforbothyouandUs.NeveragainwritetoUsinthisvein.NeveragainputsuchrequeststothisWrongedOne.Wehavearisentoimprovethemoralsofanumberofpeoplewrongedinthisworld.
IfWewereafterleadership,whatauthoritywouldhavebeenbetterthanholdingthepositionofaministerinIran?’WhenhereceivedthisanswerfromUs,hedespairedofUs,andisnowbehavinginthismanner.WereWetosendhislettertoNasiri’d-DinShah,hewouldskinhimalive.ButGodistheConcealer.HedrawsveilsoverthedeedsofHisservants.”ThenHesaid,“Donotbesad;donotbedowncast;donotletyourheartsbleed.ThesacredtreeoftheCauseofGodiswateredbythebloodofthemartyrs.Unlesswatered,atreedoesnotgrowandbear
fruit. Before long, you will see the name of the Qájárs obliterated, and the land of Irancleansedofthefilthoftheirexistenceandtheodouroftheirnames”[7].
Ninedaysafter theBlessedBeauty recounted theabovestory,He revealed“Tablet to theWorld”(Lawh-i-Dunya)inwhichcanberead“ThetyrantofthelandofY(Yazd)committedthatwhichhascausedtheConcourseonHightoshedtearsofblood”[8].
It isvery interestingtonotethatthesamesultanmetwith `Abdu’l-Baháata laterdate inEurope. His eldest son was appointed the governor-general of Yazd in 1888. He wasresponsibleforkillingalargenumberofcitizenssotogatherwealth.Hewasalsoresponsibleforthedeathofmorethan100Bahá’ís.HecruelreinendedbyhimbeingstrippedofhisestateandexiledtoEurope.Hisfather,Zillu’s-Sultan(andprobablyhissonsaswell)met`Abdu’l-BaháinSwitzerland.Thefollowingisthestoryoftheirencounter[9]
“AnexampleofthiswasHismemorablemeetingwiththeroyalprince,ZillahSultan,brotheroftheShahofPersia,MuhammadAliShah.Notalone`Abdu’l-Bahá,butagreatnumberofHisfollowers,bandafterbandofBaha’imartyrs,hadsufferedworsethandeathatthehandsofthesetwoprinces.WhenthedownfalloftheShah,withthatoftheSultanofTurkey,set`Abdu’l-Bahá at liberty, `Abdu’l-Bahá, beginningHis journey through Europe,went first toThonon-les-Bains,ontheLakeofGeneva.TheexiledShahwasthensomewhereinEurope;Zillah-Sultan, also in exile with his two sons, had fled to Geneva. Thus `Abdu’l-Bahá, theexoneratedandfree,andZillahSultan, the fugitive,werealmostwithinastone’s throwofeachother.
‘Inthesuiteof`Abdu’l-BaháwasadistinguishedEuropeanwhohadvisitedPersiaandtheremetZillahSultan.OnedaywhentheEuropeanwasstandingonthebalustradedterraceofthehotel in Thonon and `Abdu’l-Baháwas pacing to and fro at a little distance, Zillah Sultanapproached the terrace. `Abdu’l-Baháwaswearing, as always, the turban, the longwhitebeltedrobeandlongabaofPersia.Hishair,accordingtotheancientcustomofthePersiannobility, flowed to His shoulders. Zillah Sultan, after greeting the European, immediatelyasked:
‘“WhoisthatPersiannobleman?”’
“`Abdu’l-Bahá.”
‘“TakemetoHim.”
‘In describing the scene later, the European said: “If you could have heard the wretchmumblinghismiserableexcuses!”But`Abdu’l-BahátooktheprinceinHisarms.”Allthatisofthepast,”Heanswered,“Neverthinkofitagain.Sendyourtwosonstoseeme.Iwanttomeetyoursons.”
‘Theycame,oneatatime.EachspentadaywiththeMaster.Thefirst,thoughanimmatureboy,neverthelessshowedHimgreatdeference.Thesecond,olderandmoresensitive,leftthe
roomof`Abdu’l-Bahá,wherehehadbeenreceivedalone,weepinguncontrollably.“IfonlyIcouldbebornagain,”hesaid,“intoanyotherfamilythanmine.”
‘FornotonlyhadmanyBaha’isbeenmartyredduringhisuncle’sreign(upwardsofahundredbyhisfather’sinstigation),andthelifeof`Abdu’l-Baháthreatenedagainandagain,buthisgrandfather,Nasiri’d-DinShah,hadorderedtheexecutionoftheBab,aswellasthetortureanddeathofthousandsofBabis.
‘Theyoungprincewas“bornagain”–aBaha’i”[9]
ItisalsoveryinterestingtonotethattheZillu’s-Sultan,oneday,cametoaskonequestion.Heasked,“Lookatme,myhatiscoveredwithdiamonds,mygarmentshaveallsortsofjewels,andyetwhenIwalkinthestreets,nobodylooksatmeorpaysanyattentiontome.Andyet,whenyouwalkinthestreetsandyouhavethesimplestgarmentintheworld,everyonemakeswayforyou.Theycometoyou.Therearealwayshundredsofpeopleatyourdoor.Iwanttoknowwhy.”
`Abdu’l-BaháknewhimandknewthatbecauseofhimmanyoftheBahá’íshadbeenputtodeath.Thereforehetoldhim,“YourHighness,willyousitdownalittleandIwilltellyouastory.”Theprincesatdown.ThenameofthatprincewasZillu’sSultán,thesonofNásiri’d-DínSháh.TheMastersaid:“Onceawisemanpassedthesquareofacertaintownandfoundoneoftherichestpeopleofthattowngloomyandsad,broodingoverhissorrowsinthecornerofthesquare.Hewenttohimandasked,`Whatisthematterwithyou?’Heanswered,`Ihaveenoughmoneytobethegreatestmerchantinthistown,butIamnotsatisfied.Iwanttobegreaterthanthat.’Thewisemansaid,̀ Forinstance,whatwouldyouliketobe?’Themerchantreplied,̀ Iwanttobethegovernorofthistown.’Thewisemansaid,̀ IfImakeyouthegovernorofthisprovince,notthetown,butthewholeprovince,willyoubesatisfied?Pleasesearchyourheartandgivemethetrueanswer.’Themanponderedandthensaid:`Honestly,Iwillnotbesatisfied. Iwant tobeaminister.’ `IwillmakeyouaMinister,butgivemeanotherhonestanswer,willyoubesatisfied?’Afterthat,hewantedtobeKingofthecountry,andthewisemansaid,`Iwillmakeyoutheking,willyouthenbehappyandsatisfied?Doyouwantanythingbeyondthat?’Themanreplied,`Afterthatthereisnothing.’`Abdu’l-Baháthensaidtotheprince,“YourHighness,Iamthatnothing”[10]
SlopesofMountCarmel
Itwasduringthisvisit,thattheBlessedBeauty,oneday,“asHestoodontheslopesofthatmountain”[1],pointedoutto`Abdu’l-Bahá,“thesitewhichwastoserveasthepermanentresting-placeoftheBáb,andonwhichabefittingmausoleumwaslatertobeerected”[1].
“Aneye-witnesshasexplainedthatwhileBahá'u'lláhwasfacingtheEastand'Abdu'l-BahátheWest,theTongueofGrandeurissuedinstructionstotheMastertoarrangethetransportationoftheremainsoftheBábfromPersiatotheHolyLandandtheirintermentinamausoleum
belowtheclumpofcypresstreesataspotwhichHeindicatedwithHishand”[5].Itisstatedthattherewere15cypresstreesatthattime,eachoneofwhichhadthesizeofafinger,castingatinyshadow[3].
Cypress groveon the south sideof theShrineof theBáb,whereBahá’u’lláh indicated to‘Abdu’l-Baháwhere theShrineof theBábwas tobebuilt,picture is fromtheearly1900s(imagefrommedia.Bahá’í.org)
TabletofCarmelandCaveofElijah
During this visit to Haifa, His last and most significant one. Bahá’u’lláh visited CarmeliteMonasteryandCaveofElijah.InDoorofHope[4],onecanreadthefollowing.
“OnedayHewentupthemountaintoitspromontory,andHistentwaspitchedafewhundredyardseastoftheCarmeliteMonasteryatabeautifulspotonwhatwasthenabareandbrushymountaintop”[4].
“…Ona summerday in1891, ‘whenHis tentwaspitched in thevicinityof theCarmeliteMonastery’,Bahá’u’lláhsummonedHisamanuensisandthenrevealed,inaclearloudvoice,thefirstportionoftheTabletofCarmel’, ‘remarkablefor itsallusionsandprophecies’.The‘forcefultoneofHisexaltedlanguagesoundedallaround,sothateventhemonks,withinthewallsofthemonastery,heardeverywordutteredbyHim.Suchwasthecommotioncreated
on that historical event, … the earth seemed to shake, while all those present wereoverpoweredbyHismightyandwondrousspirit’[4].
“InthecourseofthatsamedayBahá’u’lláh,`Abdu’l-Bahá,localbelievers,andPersianpilgrimsvisited the upper Cave of Elijah in the nearby CarmeliteMonastery. It was a day of raresignificance upon thatmountain-top,… the Prophetmade cogent reference to theWorldAdministrativeCentreoftheFaithsosoontocome.MindfulofthefutureneedtohaveagreatHouseofWorshipbefittingtheBahá’íWorldCentre,theGuardiansoughtthebestsite.TheplacehechosewasnotfarfromthewesterntipoftheCarmelandthemonastery[4].
“It isrecordedbyMirzaMuhammad-Javad-i-QazvinithatBahá’u’lláhvisitedthelowercavesometimeafterHisvisittotheCarmelitemonasteryandcave,therebyalsohallowingitforthegenerationstocome[4].
“Following Bahá'u'lláh's passing in May 1892, 'Abdu'l-Bahá came that summer to Haifa,liviningintheupperapartmentofthewesternbuildingnearthecavemouth.There,insorrowatthemachinationsoftheCovenant-breakersandinrelativeisolationatthiscoolspotbythesea,theMasterspentonemonthandHestayedthereinsubsequentyears”[4].
Afrokhteh[6]recountsthefollowinginhismemoirs.
“Havingat lastclearedthishurdleweweresetfreetocontinueourjourneyandthuswithheartsfilledwithgratitudeandlovefordivineprovidence,wesailedforBeirutandafterwardsforHaifa.OntheshipwemetseveralofthefriendsfromBaghdadandfinallyarrivedatourdestination.Inastateofgreatexcitement,spiritualattractionandwithaprayerfulattitudewealightedatHaifaintheearlyhoursoftheevening.
InHaifa,weweretoldthat'Abdu'l-BaháwasinseclusionattheShrineofElijahandonlytwoorthreeofthebelieverswerepermittedtoattainHispresence.ThisgeneralbanappliedtoeveryoneexceptfriendsfromIranwhohadreceivedspecificpermissionfrom'Abdu'l-Bahátomakethepilgrimage.Thishorrificnewsleftusshakenandgrieved,aswerealizedthattherebellionoftheCovenant-breakerswasmuchmorewidespreadandseriousthanwhathadbeenreportedtousinTehran.Atthesametime,ourdesireandlongingtoattainthepresenceof'Abdu'l-Bahárobbedusofallpatience.
Sincewehadarrivedintheevening,wewereinformedthatourmeetingwiththeMasterhadbeenscheduledfortheafternoonofthefollowingday.WewerethentakentothehomeofHajiSiyyidTaqiManshadiwherewewerewelcomedandgreetedbyafewofthefriendswhovisitedusbriefly,afterwhichwewereassignedasmallroomforthenight.Myfellowtravellerwasamanofhumouranddevotionandsowepassedthenightchantingprayersandpoetry.
The following morning, Manshadi took us out for a stroll in the streets of Haifa. Whilesightseeing,westoppedandpurchasedsomenecessaryfooditemsandthenreturnedtothehouse.Asithadbeenseveraldayssincewehadenjoyedagoodmeal,wehastilypreparedaverylargeomelette,ofwhichweallategenerousportionscomplementedwithlotsofyogurt,
cheeseandamountainofbread.Ourstomachssatisfied,ourspiritsrevivedtoo;ourkneesstoppedshakingandourdevotiontotheCauseofGodfoundnewvigour.Oncerecoveredphysically,webegan to loseall patiencewithManshadi,who seemed less than serious inmakingthenecessaryarrangementsforustoattainthepresenceof'Abdu'l-Bahá.
Atlast,afterhearingallthe"maybe"sand"Godwilling"s,wesetouttowardstheslopesofMountCarmel,arrivingattheShrineofElijahatdusk.Thecoolmountainair,combinedwithallthejoyandlongingofattainingtheMaster'spresence,hadelevatedourspiritstosuchalevel thatwe couldhearearthandheavenand indeedeverypieceof rockexclaiming "YaBaha'u'l-Abha!"
We had not climbedmore than a few steps up the slopewhen suddenly we beheld theluminouscountenanceoftheCentreoftheCovenantofGodwalkingdowntheslopeonanarrowtrack,headedtowardsthewideopenfields.
Once inHispresence,eachofus communicated inhisownway to theBelovedofhearts,expressionsofutterhumilityanddevotion.Withsmilesthatmeltedthehearts,andrepeatedwordsofwelcome,theMastertoldustogototheupperlevelandwaitforHim.Thereweretwosmall,modestly furnishedrooms,onefor 'Abdu'l-Baháandtheother for thepilgrims.Whattherewasinthewayofkitchenwareandbeddingconsistedofacopperpan,asmallgrill,twoplates,onetray,onequilt,asmallsamovarandtwoteacups.Therewasalsoaverycourteousyetagileten-year-oldIndianchildwhostoodreadytoassistinanywaywemightneed.Thisisallthattherewastofilltheneedsof'Abdu'l-BaháinHisseclusion.Alongwithtwoofthefriendsresident inHaifa,weenteredthepilgrimroom,satdown,andbegantoconversewhileteawasbeingserved.
WeweretoldagreatdealabouttheseditiousactivitiesoftheCovenant-breakers.Buttheyspokewithapprehension. Itwas clear that theywerenotpermitted to speakopenly, andbesides,theycouldnottakeusintotheirfullconfidenceasyet.ButatthesametimetheygaveusthejoyfulnewsofthegreatsuccessesinvariousteachingprojectsintheWest.Inanyevent,thesituationwassimilartotheoneinIran.
Abouttwohoursaftersunset,thepilgrimsfromIranandBaghdadweretakenindividuallyintothepresenceof'Abdu'l-Bahá.Iwasthesecondtobesummoned.WithaburstofexcitementandspeedIenteredtheroom,andfoundmyselfbeforetheblessedpersonof'Abdu'l-Bahá.AsIfelltomykneesandplacedmybrowatHisfeet,mypent-uptearsofjoyandlongingwerefinallyreleased,andasIwept,HisgentlehandhelpedmetomyfeetandintoHisarms.Iwastransportedintoanotherworld,thehighestparadise.Andasmyspiritsoaredinthatspiritualatmosphere,HehelpedmetositonbentkneesjustoppositeHimasHebegantospeaktome.Ididnotcomprehendaword.
Thinknotthatwordscanpenetratemybeing,Iturnadeafearwhengoodadviceisoffered.
OnemomentIwasoverwhelmedbytheheavenlybeautyofthatwondrousCountenance,thenextIfeltshameandfearforanypastdeedsandconductunworthyofsuchsurroundings.WhoamI?Whereisthis?HowdidIeverbecomeworthytobepresentinthisheavenlyplace?
HowdidIeverbecomeworthyofreceiving,firsthand,theblessingsof'Abdu'l-Bahá?Suddenlyanotherthoughtinvadedthesemusings:Whatifthisisbutadream?WhatwillIdoifIawaketodiscoverthatthis,infact,hasbeenadream?AsthesethoughtsfilledmymindIcouldnotholdbackmytears,andbegantoweeploudly.Butagain,'Abdu'l-Bahá'sloveenvelopedandconsoledme.GraduallyIrecoveredmysensesandbegantolistenandcommittoheartthewordsoftheMaster.
AsHepacedthefloor,Hespoketome:"TheysaythatJonahwasswallowedbyafishandspent threedays in itsbelly. Thismeans that theonwardmarchof theCauseofGodwasdelayedforthreedays.ThisisalsothesamethreedaysthatJesusspentinheavenafterHisascensionandbeforeHisreturn."{19}
Ofcourse,thesearenotHisexactwords,buttheycontaintheirmeaningandessence.'Abdu'l-BahácontinuedHisutterances,impartingtomewordsofcounsel:
"IwishthefriendsofGodtogiveforthlightlikethislamp.TheSunoftheAbhaBeautyhasset,sothebelovedofGodmustshinebrightlyasthelamp."
Isaidtomyself.maymylifebesacrificedforthispresentandmanifestSun,whosewarmthandbrightnesscausemytearstoflowuncontrollably.Iwipeawaythetearswithmyfingertips,Otherwise the oncoming Caravan will surely sink in the tear-laden mud. With a glanceexpressingunquenchablethirst,IbeheldthewondrousfigureoftheincomparableBelovedandmyheartspokethewordsofSa'di:
Theeyesthatbeheldyoulikenedyoutothetallcypress-Considertheshortsightedwhoisblindtosuchbeauty.
Atlast,withthewords"GointhecareofGod",HedismissedmefromHispresence.Eachofthepilgrims,onebyone,weretakentoHispresenceandastheyemergedIcouldseeintheirfacesthesameemotionsthatdominatedmybeing:lostinutterwonderment,weepingonemomentandbreakingintojoyouslaughterthenext,astheytooktheirplacesinacorneroftheroom.”
References
[1]Effendi,S.,&Townshend,G.(1970).Godpassesby(p.38).Bahá'íPublishingTrust.
[2]Balyuzi,H.M.(1980).Baháʼuʼlláh,theKingofGlory.Ronald.
[3] Pazhuheshnameh Nr. 3 – p 85 Jamal-i-Qadam dar Haifa by Vahid Rafati(http://pazhuheshnameh.org/content/view/268/139/)
[4]Ruhe,D.S.(1983).Doorofhope:acenturyoftheBaháʻífaithintheHolyLand.GeorgeRonald.
[5]Taherzadeh,A..(1987).TheRevelationofBaha'u'llah.G.Ronald,Volume4,Chapter23
[6]Afroukhteh,Y.(2003).MemoriesofNineYearsin‘‘Akká.
[7]Afnán,M.H.MemoriesoftheBáb,Baháʾuʾlláh,andʿAbduʾl-Bahá.(trans.AhangRabbani).
[8]TabletsofBahá'u'lláhrevealedaftertheKitáb-i-Aqdas.Baha'iDistributionService,1978,page85.
[9]Honnold,A.(Ed.).(1997).Vignettes:FromtheLifeof'Abdu'l-Bahá.GeorgeRonald.[10] Hand of the Cause of God A.Q. Faizi, Austrialia 1969 (http://Bahá’í-library.com/faizi_australia_1969)
